Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-01-01

~ iIoIh bDb -oli tDUIP iBh,
and did no good after.
Lucky for them and for me,
though it sounds queer to say it, he
did not live long to be a burden; but
we had some hard times. now aud then,
when the weather was rough and there
was no fish to sell. Only for the BARNS
/ would have been housemaid at the
vicarage, for which Miss Ashford had
mad me trained before mother died;
hut | could earn more money doing as
the rest did, and look after the little
ones at the same time.
The men favored me in the matter
of fish, because they thought l had a
stifish hill to climb, and l will say that
nobody was kinder than Edam Carr. l
believe he was really fond of me, and l
often reproached myself that / could
not help shrinking from him
But was not alone in that dread.
They called him BLACK Edam," for a
nickname, because he looked so grim
and sour. None of the men exchanged
greetings with him when he stalked
alone past their friendly groups; nor
did any of the girls laugh and joke with
him. With one consent he was left
alone
Wen, you see, here was a bond of
union between us in his eyes. They
looked on me AS on one doomed, and
on him las on one unlucky, or unhappy,
which means the same to them. ''lt's
no use fightin' fate, Elsie!' he would
say, looking down at me with his great
gloomy eyes: eve were made for one
another, we two"
But j used to shake my head and run
away, though ] dared not offend him
by contradicting him otherwise. He
got trimmer and blacker as time went
on, and ! did not forget my Willie, as
perhaps Edam hoped | should.
The weather was uncertain that au-
tumn, and there was little dependence
on the fish. Some days the boats were
not off at all; some days they had no
fish when they landed. | got work
where | could, but those three mouths
at home took a lot of satisfying, and I
often went to bed hungry and cold
along with them.
One afternoon | was wandering rath-
or di~sconsolatelv on the beach, feeling
low and hopeless, wishing for Willie
and better days, when Edam, who was
busy in his boat, called to me as !
passed by.
Elsie, come here and tell me what
you think o my boat?" he cried, in u
more CHEEKY voice than usual, and,
glad TO be good-natured when could,
| stopped aud admired thw fine new
boat he had just bought with the money
an uncle had left him.
'But you've &c nc name for her." |
said at last; what are you going to
call her?"
THAT depends on YOU" he replied,
looking up quickly; "if we don't object,
| would name her The Bonnie Elsie"
That would never do. / thought in n
minute; it would be all over the place
ut once that Edam Carr had called his
boat after Elsie Wilson, and that she
was "olf with the old love and on with
the new"
You mustn't do that" demurred
as gently as | could; theirs prettier
names and ~lassies, too, for that matter,
in the place"
His face changed for the worse in q
moment, and an angry light blazed in
his eyes.
I'm not TO hev yer name, then, for
bye yerself!'
alt wouldn't do. Edam; folks
would talk and-and Willie might be
vexed," | went on hesitatingly. What
Il coward ! was to be sure! 1t was
with the greatest difficulty. in the world
| managed to bring out my real obiec-
ton. And yet / was SO proud Of be-
ing Willie's sweetheart.
He's not yer man yet, that he
should mind" Edam replied sulkily,
and then under his breath: MAY be
he never will be, either"
| heard the end Of the sentence, low
rs it was muttcred.
AN what's to hinder, if we're both
of one mind about it?" | said sharply.
losing my temper a bit at his obsti-
macy.
"Who knowsP He might get a wife
where he's gone, and he might never
come back at ALL"
Dye want to quarrel wi me,
Edam?"
mo. no, Elsie, we Wilma quarrel
he said ut once. 'Im n bit queer in
the temper, but l wouldn't like to yeX
you"
I'm goin' to try the new boat will
We venture out wi me, lassie?' he went
on quietly after a moment.
/ did not know what to say. Ii
would not be wise to offend him more
than / had been unlucky enough to do
already. There was no harm in sail.
ing out a mile or so, providing he
would promise to bring me back again.
But could l trust himp His mother,
old Mamie Carr, had come up while
we were speaking, and she took part
with him.
".it's not much to ask We, Elsie, and
it'll please him ever so! He's gay
queer to do we just now, l%assie,' she
said aside to me. IF We car humor
him a bit We might for mas sakep"
She was a kind n~eighbor, and often
the BARNS got a dinner from her when
| was away, so | did not care to refuse